Enlightenment

A Letter From Father

I enjoy writing letters by hand. I often write and give letters to Zion family members as well. In this digital age, where a short birthday greeting can be sent with just a few taps on a mobile keyboard, there…

Seo Yeong-im From Busan, Korea

Repentance

At the close of each day, I often write a letter to God—a quiet prayer wrapped in words. One evening, as I sat down to write as usual, I suddenly grew curious about what I had written in the past.…

Lee Jae-uk From Pyeongtaek, Korea

Like Mother

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Pe 4:7–8 While reading the verse…

Yu Ji-ho From Gwangju, Gyeonggi, Korea

Even While Sleeping

Early in the morning, I woke up with a stomachache and went to the bathroom. As I sat there for a long time, I suddenly heard my mom’s voice, “Are you okay?” I was startled. It was the middle of…

Jahng Dong-geon From the 2nd Puebla, Mexico

Sorting Beans

Late at night, my mother quietly asked if I could help her sort beans. She explained that my grandmother’s bean harvest had been so successful that they were planning to sell the beans at the market—all two large sacks of…

Yang Seung-hun From Chuncheon, Korea

Cleaning the Wardrobe

“Whew! This wardrobe really needs sorting.” I had opened the wardrobe to pick out clothes for the next day, only to find everything tangled in a chaotic heap. With moving day fast approaching, I had put off organizing, and now…

Seo Jin-hee From Busan, Korea

Until I Experienced Pain Myself

I grew up healthy from a young age. Perhaps because of that, whenever I heard that someone was absent from school or missed work because they were sick, I simply thought they were making excuses. But one day, I suddenly…

Han So-hee From Moscow, Russia

The Weight of the Name Dad

We went to my maternal grandfather’s farm to help with the sweet potato planting. Every year, he planted a small field of sweet potatoes, saying he wanted to share the fruits of his own hands with his children. He was…

Lee Eun-bi From Yeongju, Korea

What It Likes and What It Dislikes

It is said that COVID-19 has things it likes, so-called, three Cs: closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact. Being in a closed environment with poor ventilation, making close contact within one meter, or gathering in crowded spaces all help the…

Go Su-jeong From Gunsan, Korea

Obedience

But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the…

Yu Nam-cheol From Incheon, Korea

Haenyeo (Female Divers)

I made a trip to Jeju Island with my family. The blue sea, the clear sky, and the gentle sea breeze lifted my spirits. While admiring the deep blue ocean, I noticed bright orange floats bobbing on the water. They…

Kim Seo-yeon From Incheon, Korea

My Son’s Confession

Raising children has deepened my understanding of the love of our Heavenly Parents. Through my teenage son—who would grumble and rebel, only to seek out his parents in times of trial—I often found myself reflecting on my own attitude toward…

Song Se-hee from Andong, Korea

A Steadfast Helper

It was during my first job after college that I encountered a humbling misstep. I had designed a promotional leaflet for our company and sent it off for printing, only to discover upon delivery that the final size didn’t match…

Song Yeon-ju from Seongnam, Korea

The Thornbush of My Soul

I was on my way to meet someone, wearing a sweater I cherished. The air was fragrant with the scent of spring, and I strolled along, lost in the charm of the day—when I suddenly felt a tug on my…

Gahng Min-seo From Seongnam, Korea

Mature Faith

Today, we live in an age shaped by instant reactions and immediate rewards. With a single click, we earn money, complete purchases, or launch games. What once took three or four days to arrive now appears on our doorstep overnight.…

Lee Ji-won From Gimhae, Korea

The Reason I Can Keep My Faith

At our Zion, we held a media exhibition. Each day, people streamed in—curious, eager to learn about the Church of God—and witnessing their realization and joy brought me quiet happiness. I had been assigned to help manage the exhibit, a…

Baek Hwa-rang From Suwan, Korea

My Longed-for Hometown

In my childhood, our home was a bustling household of nineteen family members. The house stood on a broad plot of land, filled with memories as expansive as the space itself. One corner of the yard held a small greenhouse…

Choi Han-mi From Icheon, Korea

God, the Light of My Heart

Scientists have discovered that when mice are placed in threatening situations, a particular set of cells activates to signal anxiety—cells they named “anxiety cells.” If such cells exist in humans, I am certain I must have twice the average. I…

Lee Seon-mi From Yongin, Korea

Heaven’s Way of Calculation

I visited the bank with my son, who had recently been discharged from the military, to take care of a savings account he had contributed to during his service. While we were waiting for our turn, a memory—a precious one…

Yun Eun-ju From Goyang, Korea

True Love

At my mother’s request, I set out on an errand with my younger sister. We’re five years apart, and though she is now in high school, she still seems like a little child to me. Maybe that’s why I often…

Son Yun-gyeong From Gyeongsan, Korea